Improvement in dredging-maghines



J. OANAN. Dredging-Machine.

No. 215,263. Patented May 13, 1879.

N. PETERS, FNOTO-LllI-IOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

JAMES GANAN, or ALLANBURG, ONTARIO, CANADA.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFrcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DREDGlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Iatent No. 215,263, dated May 13,1879; application filed February 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES GANAN, of the village of Allanburg, in thecounty of Welland and Province of Ontario, Canada, 0011- tractor, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements on Dredging-Machines, whichimprovements are fully set forth and described in the followingspecification and accompany: ing drawings.

My invention has relation more particularly to improvements in thatclass of dredging-ma chines known as spoon or dipper dredges and itconsists in the application of hydraulic machinery for the purpose ofraising the dipper and swinging the dipper-frame, as more particularlydescribed hereinafter.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan, and Fig. 2 a sideview, of a dredgingmachine in the construction of which my improvementsare embodied. Figs. 3 and 4 are details.

Ais thedipper-crane, constructed and mounted on the dredge in the usualmanner, and provided with a dipper or spoon, B. The crane and dipper arearranged to operate in the usual manner; but the means by which they areoperated are novel.

0 O G are hydraulic cylinders, connected to a suitable pump, orothersource of supply, by a pipe, D, which cylinders are provided withvalves, by means of which water may be admitted to or allowed to flowfrom the cylinders, as required in the working of the mechanism. Thesecylinders are provided with pistons and piston-rods, to the ends ofwhich are connected cables, said cables, from the movement imparted tothem by the piston-rods, operating the crane and dipperin the followingmanner: As shown in the drawings, the central cylinder, 0, is the dipperor spoon cylinder. From the end of the piston-rod E of this cylinder aconnection is made over suitable friction-rollcrs to the dipper by awire or chain cable, F. This cylinder is provided with an inlet-valve,G, and an outlet-valve, G, by the proper manipulationsof which thepiston is moved in either direction required, and the dipper elevated orlowered accordingly. The admission of water forces the piston in thedirection of the arrow, thus elevating the dipper, while the opening ofthe outlet-valve G permits the water to discharge from the cylinder,thus allowing the dipper to be lowered by the force of its own weight.

The piston-rod is provided with a roller, 0, which supports the weightof the rod when extended, and prevents sagging. The area of the pistonis governed, of course, by the weight to be lifted and the pressure ofwater that can .be applied, and the cable-connection between thepiston-rod and dipper may also be varied by means of sheave-blocks tomove the dipper faster or slower than the movement of the piston. Asshown in the drawings, a movement of one foot would cause the dipper torise two feet. This proportion under some circum' stances mightnot besatisfactory. Therefore I do not limit myclaim to the arrangementillustrated, as I propose to vary the proportion of parts ascircumstances may direct.

O O are the cylinders which operate the turn-table H of the crane. Thepiston-rods of these cylinders are connected by a continuous cable, I,which cable passes over suitablyar ranged friction-rollers and aroundthe turntable, in the manner shown. The operation of each of thesecylinders is governed by a threeway cock, J, or other equivalent device,placed on the water-pipe. In moving the crane by means of thesecylinders, water is turned on the cylinder at the side to which movementis desired, while the cock of the cylinder at the other side is moved sothat the'discharge-port will be open. Thus one cylinder will be fill ingand exerting a pull on the crane while the other cylinder isdischarging. A retrograde movement of the crane is accomplished by reversing the position or the cooks.

That the position and arrangement of the cylinders could be varied fromthat shown I am aware. Therefore I do not limit my claim to anyparticular arrangement of parts.

The advantages of my invention are that most of the expensive andintricate mechanism now in use for operating steam dredging-ma chines isdispensed with, and simple, power= ful, and cheap hydraulic machinerysubstituted therefor. A further advantage is that the liability ofbreakage is much reduced, and the cost for repairs will be placed at aminimum figure.

I do not claim, broadly, the application of hydraulic machinery foroperating cranes and excavator-shovels, and am also aware of En lishPatent No. 11,319 of 1846; but

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- In a dredgingmachine having the craneA and dipper B, the combination of the cylinders 0 0 each provided withavalve, J, operating as described, whereby, as fluid is admitted to onecylinder it is allowed to escape from the other cylinder, the continuouscable I, secured to the piston-rods of said cylinders, and working overthe turn-table H. to swing the crane, the cylinder 0, having the valvesG G, and the sheaved chain F, attached to its piston-rod and workingover the outer sheave of the crane to raise the dipper, all arrangedwith relation to each other substantially as specified.

JAMES GANAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. AIRD, JOHN G. RIDOUT.

